Lakers Fans Invited to Rally Downtown for Away Game Watch Parties

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough Lakers fans will have a new place to cheer on the team as they battle the Six Nations Chiefs in the 2026 MSL Finals.

the dbia are the lakers are encouraging fans to bring their chairs, wear their blue and red and head downtown for the first of three possible away game watch parties at Quaker Foods City Square. (photo via facebook @theboropeterborough)

When the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers hit the road for the MSL Finals, fans won’t have to watch from home.

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), in partnership with the City of Peterborough, is bringing the playoff action downtown with outdoor watch parties at Quaker Foods City Square.

The big screen at the square, located on Charlotte Street between King Street and George Street, will show the Lakers’ away games as the team continues its championship series against Six Nations.

The first watch party is set for Sunday, August 23rd at 7pm, when the Lakers head to Six Nations for Game 3.

Two additional watch parties are planned if the series goes the distance:

• Thursday, August 27th at 8pm for Game 5, if necessary

• Tuesday, September 1st at 8pm for Game 7, if necessary

The Lakers currently trail the Chiefs by one game in the series, making Sunday's game an important one as Peterborough looks to even things up on the road.

For DBIA Executive Director Nour Mazloum, the idea was a natural fit.

“We’re doing the away games to get the community out there to cheer on the Lakers,” Mazloum said.

The DBIA has already seen the appeal of bringing major sporting events into the square, with successful watch parties for the Toronto Blue Jays and Peterborough Petes. The Lakers’ playoff run presented another opportunity to bring people together downtown.

“We saw a lot of comments on social media wanting, they’re like, you did it for the Petes. Why not for the Lakers?” Mazloum said.

The answer was simple: bring the Lakers to the square.

Bringing People Together

Mazloum said the idea of using a downtown public space for community events was influenced in part by what she had seen in Kingston, where outdoor movies and other programming have been used to bring people together.

“It is something that I’ve always seen in Kingston and other communities that brought people together,” she said.

That philosophy has also shaped the DBIA’s programming in Peterborough. The organization has hosted Tuesday movie nights and other events at the square, creating more family-friendly reasons for people to spend time downtown.

Now, with the Lakers making another playoff run, the big screen will shift from movies to lacrosse.

“And then, the Lakers are doing so well,” Mazloum said. “So let’s do a watch party.”

The atmosphere should be familiar to anyone who has attended a Lakers playoff game. Peterborough has a passionate lacrosse fan base, and the DBIA is hoping some of that energy will make its way to the square.

“Lakers Nation is one of the loudest and most passionate fanbases in lacrosse!” said Pete Dalliday, the Lakers’ Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships. “When the team hits the road, Quaker Foods City Square will be the next best place to be aside from the Memorial Centre.”

Dalliday said the players can feel the support around the city, including the Lakers flags displayed throughout Peterborough.

“This just adds to the vibe,” he said.

Free Admission, Bring a Chair

The watch parties are free, and fans are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for the game.

Fans are also encouraged to wear their Lakers colours.

There will be plans for vendors and additional activities, although details may vary from one watch party to another. The DBIA says additional programming, activities and spectator information will be announced ahead of each game.

Food is also part of the plan, but fans don’t have to wait for a specific vendor to arrive.

Mazloum encouraged people to make an evening of it by heading downtown early, grabbing dinner at one of the area's restaurants or picking up takeout to bring to the square.

“We’re not checking where you bring your food from,” she said. “So it’s really whatever you want.”

That also fits with the DBIA’s broader goal of connecting the watch parties with the rest of downtown, particularly during the summer patio season.

Mazloum said this has been the busiest summer since she arrived in Peterborough two years ago, with busy patios and good weather helping bring people downtown for events and supporting local businesses.

The Lakers watch parties are another way to build on that momentum.

Make Some Noise for the Lakers

There is one important consideration for fans planning to attend: Quaker Foods City Square is also surrounded by homes and businesses.

Mazloum said fans are welcome to get loud and cheer, but asked everyone to be respectful of the people who live and work around the square.

The city's noise bylaw takes effect at 11pm, so fans are being asked to keep their enthusiasm within those limits while respecting the surrounding community throughout the evening.

The watch parties are also weather dependent. Because they are outdoor events, they may be cancelled in the event of rain. Weather updates and any cancellation information will be shared through The Boro’s social media channels.

For now, though, the message is simple.

Bring your chair. Wear your blue and red. Grab some food downtown and find a spot at Quaker Foods City Square.

Then make some noise for the Lakers.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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